Gate-latch



(No Model.) v

C. F. BETTMANN, Jr.

, GATE LATCH. I No. 478,556. Patented July 12, 1892.

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NITED. STATES- CHARLES F.BETTMANN, J R.,

PATENT EEICEe or NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,556, dated July 12, 1892.

Application filed March 5, 1892. Serial No. 423,925. (No model.)

To au whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BETTMANN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Combined Latch and Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined latches and locks, and particularly to that class used in connection with gates, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a combined latch and lock which can be readily mounted in operative position and converted from an ordinary latch to a lock by a simple change in several of the parts, which can be accomplished without removing said parts from their attached positions, the said parts being simple and effective in their construction and arrangement, strong and durable,

easily applied and readily operated, convenient, and inexpensive in manufacture.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a gate and adjacent supports, showing the improved combined lock and latch in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts of the combined lock and latch removed, showing some of the parts in dotted lines and arranged in locking position. Fig. 3 isa detail perspective view of thelatch orbolt.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a gate, and B the posts adjacent to said gate and having a striker-plate C therein, which may be arranged in suitable position and in relation to the bolt or latch D, which is connected to the contiguous end post of the said gate A. To the said end post of the gatejA is secured a bracket E, having a square opening E' therethrough, and below said bracket at a suitable distance is also mounted an eye-plate F, having an ear F' with an opening therein, for a purpose which will be more fully hereinafter referred to. A keeper or supportingframe G is secured to said end post of the gate and is formed with end flanges G', having an opening through one of the same for the removable reception of the shank C of said bolt or latch D,`the oppositely-situated ange of said keeper or plate being formed with a slot, through which the head of the bolt or latch has free movement.

Between the termination of the head of the bolt or latch D and the fiange G', through which the shank C' of said bolt or latch has movement, a coiled spring S is mounted and surrounds the said shank C', thereby impelling said bolt or latch normally outward from the said keeper or supporting-plate. To limit the outer movement of the head of the said bolt or latch from the keeper or supportingplate thereof, shoulders D are formed on said bolt or latch, which bear against the adjacent ange G of the keeper or supportingplate, which Willvoperate in a manner that will be readily understood. The head of the bolt or latch is formed with a vertically-disposed slot D2, extending therethrough, and is adapted to be engaged by the cam-head H on the end of an operating bar or rod H. The said bar or rod Hpasses through the bracket E and the eye-plate F, and on said rod or bar is movably mounted asleeve J of square outline and provided with a flange-head J of circular form. Between the flanged head J 'Y and an operating knob or head H2 on the end of the rod or bar H ismounted a spring S', which is coiled around said rod or bar, and thereby tends to normally position the said sleeve within the square opening E', extending through the bracket E. The rod or bar H is preferably of square form and passes through a square opening in the said sleeve J, and thereby said rod or bar is prevented from turning. The cam end H' of the said rod or bar is of semi-arrow-head shape and is elongated and provided with a vertical wall in a plane parallel and continuous of one side of said rod or bar H. As shown in Fig. 2, when the device is operated as a simple latch the said arrow-head portion of the cam H' is located toward the left of the gate and the end thereof is in the slot D2 of the bolt or latch D. By pressing on the knob or head H2 of the bar or rod H the said cam-head is forced downward through the slot D2 and against the inner end wall thereof, thereby forcing the latch inward Vagainst the action of the spring in connection therewith, which is 0W- ing to the inclined construction of the said engaging portion of the head H', and thereby allow the gate to be opened as may be desired. By raising the sleeve J from its seat in the bracket E against the action of the IOD spring S it Will be readily seen that the rod or bar I-I may be readily turned to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and thereby bring the straight Wall of the head H against the end wall of the slot D2 of the bolt 0r latch I), When said bolt or latch will re-` main in locked position and be immovable until the said rod or bar H is turned as before. It Will be understood that in turning the rod or bar H to this position the sleeve J Will slip back into the square opening E of the bracket E, and thereby prevent tampering With the latch When it isv in locked position by those Who do not understand its operation.

The advantage and utility of this device are obviously apparent, and it will be readily understood that it might be placed in either a Vertical or horizontal position and operate equally as Well as in the form shown and may be used upon doors or other places Where found applicable.

' Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a combined lock, the combination of a spring-actuated bolt or latch having a slot extending therethrough, a rod or bar With a head thereon movably engaging said bolt or latch and passing. through said slot therein and operating the same, and a sleeve on said rod or bar for locking the latter in either one of its adjusted positions against rotatable movement, substantially as described.

2. In a combined latch and lock, the combination of a bolt or latch having a slot eX- tending therethrough, a square rod or bar ar ranged at right angles to said bolt or latch and having a head engaging said bolt or latch, and a square sleeve having a square opening therein through which said rod or bar extends and adjustably fitted to a square seat, the said sleeve being adjustably mounted in a temporary fixed position, substantially as described.

3. In a combined latch and lock, the combination of a sliding bolt or latch having a slot therein and extending therethrough,an operating rod or bar arranged at right angles thereto and of square form, the said bar being provided with a cam-head With a vertical Wall, a square sleeve movably sprrounding said bar or rod and having a square opening therein and-a flanged head, and a bracket With a square opening therein to receive said square sleeve, said bolt or latch and operating rod or bar having springs in connection therewith, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES F. BETTMANN, JR.

lVitnesses:

CHAs. NUETZEL, Jr., CLARENCE WALKER. 

